Mumbai: Odisha, the maritime gateway of eastern India, has once again made waves on the national stage by winning the ‘Best Stall’ award at India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025 in Mumbai. The recognition celebrates the State’s outstanding showcase of maritime heritage, innovation, and sustainable development vision.
The award was presented by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, and received by Bidhan Chandra Ray, Additional Secretary, Commerce & Transport Department; Padmalochan Roul, Director, Ports & Inland Water Transport; and Capt. Sushant Bag, Chief Nautical Officer, Odisha Maritime Board.
Curated by the Commerce & Transport Department, Government of Odisha, and the Odisha Maritime Board, the stall was designed around the theme “Odisha – Voyage of Heritage and Hope.” It creatively traced the State’s maritime evolution — from the ancient Boita Bandana and shipbuilding traditions of Kalinga to the modern era of port-led growth, inland waterways, cruise tourism, shipbuilding clusters, and blue economy initiatives.
The Odisha pavilion drew wide appreciation from visitors, dignitaries, and industry leaders for its immersive storytelling and innovative design, which seamlessly connected Odisha’s glorious maritime past with its forward-looking development agenda.
The recognition at IMW 2025 underscores Odisha’s growing role in India’s maritime transformation — where heritage meets innovation — and reinforces the State’s vision of steering toward a “Viksit Odisha, Viksit Bharat.”
